Tom McCamus (1/16 Winter's Tale)
Excerpt from Corktown 1/25/16: Tom McCamus
Oscar-nominated “Room’s” Tom McCamus and Tony Award-winner Brent Carver to Star in Groundling Theatre’s “The Winter’s Tale”
On January 25, 2016 By Dennis Kucherawy
As the world this year celebrates the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare, Toronto’s new Groundling Theatre launches its first production of the Bard at the popular, intimate Coal Mine Theatre at 1454 Danforth, slightly west of Coxwell Ave. Unlike productions distinguished by pageantry, opulent sets and lavish costumes in theatres seating 1,800 and more, this inaugural production of “The Winter’s Tale” takes place in a storefront theatre seating approximately 80 people with a 10-member cast. If Mike Myers’ spy Austin Powers had been theatrical, he might have called it “mini-me” Shakespeare. Previews begin tomorrow night and Wednesday, Jan. 26th and 27th with specially priced $25 tickets. It runs until Saturday, Feb. 20th. Opening night this Thursday is sold-out while the best available seating is Feb. 14th, 16th and 17th. With regular priced tickets at only $35, the run is sure to sell out quickly.
Stratford veterans Tom McCamus, (who appears in the five-time Oscar-nominated movie “Room”,) and Tony Award-winner Brent Carver lead a stellar cast of actors from Toronto and the Shaw and Stratford Festivals including Lucy Peacock who plays Paulina. She has performed in approx. 30 of Shakespeare’s plays during 28 seasons at Stratford. Music is by George Meanwell. Direction by Graham Abbey, acclaimed TV, film and stage actor and veteran of many Stratford productions.
“The Winter’s Tale,” one of the Bard’s last plays, is “considered to be one of (his) greatest masterpieces,” says the company’s press release. “(It) chronicles the descent of King Leontes of Sicilia into a world of jealousy, murder and conspiracy when he falsely accuses his Queen, Hermione, of an infidelity with his oldest (and best) friend, King Polixenes. “Upon receiving news that his wife and young son have died under the strain of public humiliation, and believing his newborn daughter is not his own, the vengeful King orders the child to be abandoned on the remote shores of Bohemia, where divine intervention plants the seeds of forgiveness and rebirth, and awakens the possibility of faith in all of us.”
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